Spoiler Free!
#Genre and Summary
Action, Adventure, Comedy and Supernatural. Yu Yu Hakusho or YYH for short, is another anime from a different time where the emphasis on certain aspects of anime was clearly different than it is now. It follows the harrowing story of our lead Yusuke Urameshi as he leaps first into uncharted waters to become Earth’s Spirit Detective. Its an unorthodox shounen style series, as there are many tropes that are unfamiliar to the genre itself, however it is one of the greatest story saga’s out there.
#What I loved about the series
I will preface this by saying that I originally saw when I was younger but unfortunately forgot quite a lot about the show, so I thought it deserved a rewatch!
There is so much to love and appreciate with YYH. Originating in the early 90s meant that anime as a medium wasn’t nearly as popular as it is today. The following was scarce, and for good measure. For the most part it was untested. However with the arrival of YYH and its counterpart Dragon Ball/Z, the landscape of anime was changed for the better. YYH was one of the gateway stories that served as a springboard for many of the various shows and stories to come in the future. I appreciated YYH for its service as one of the greatest series to ever establish itself. I’ve always considered it to be the big brother that took the brunt of the hits so that the little brothers could move on to greater heights!
When we look at Yu Yu Hakusho specifically we note several great qualities. The story first and foremost is one of the best out there. To be able to take a concept such as death and the afterlife, one that is criticized and theorized so heavily by several religions and cultures, and be able to turn it into a beautiful story about belonging, and findings life’s values is a testament to everyone who worked on the story. The show essentially can be divided into 4-5 major arcs with each one getting progressively better and better. And for a show that is 112 episodes long, that statement alone is impressive. The story is thought provoking, yet subtle, as it can provide us with the emotional balance we desire yet question our own thoughts and trials within ourselves.
GREATEST TOURNAMENT ARC IN ANIME HISTORY!
Now lets dive into the meat and potatoes. The cast of characters was as strong as I’ve ever seen in any show. The main cast obviously included Yusuke, but what set him apart was his willpower and determination. Typical shounen’s would always use the “plot armor” trope that a MC could pull something out of a hat to win or excel, but this is the exception. We see the painstaking effort it takes for Yusuke to become who he is, and its as grueling as it is exciting! Joined by our main cast members Kazuma Kuwabara, Kurama, and Hiei, the foursome makes for a fantastic “team” dynamic. Kuwabara brings the heart to the team with his strong dialogue, warm aura, and of course witty comedy! Kurama brings a cautious yet calculating persona, which when combined with his skills makes for a formidable foe for anyone. And of course Hiei, who is as cold and ruthless as can be, however he too has some very redeeming qualities.
The bonus here is that we have one of the strongest female casts along for the ride too! Genkai is an anchor to the show and for good reason. Without her, the show very well would’ve never lifted to the heights that it was able to. And she serves as a pillar of strength and knowledge for the gang! Botan was also an integral member of the group while also being comedic in her own right. Shizuru was a strong presence as a more mature member of he cast, despite her lack of fighting prowess. She served as a ground for the others, especially Keiko Yukimura. Keiko’s importance to the show can’t be understated, however I won’t get into details to ruin the story. And lastly we have our baby faced ruler Koenma, who without, the show would’ve never even started!
What helps separate YYH from other shows were the antagonists and villains! These dudes and dudettes were some of the strongest, harrowing villains I’ve seen in anime, and were easily able to invoke sheer terror into our heroes. Without them, YYH would have surely failed as a show and a story.
TOURNAMENT ARC IS AMAZING!
Lets talk other show logistics.
With regards to the art style and the animation, I can say for something that was hand drawn completely, it was gorgeous by even today’s standards. It gives off the old school vibes that anime was founded on, where extreme detail was given to all aspects of each individual scene. The art style was variably well received as the color tones shifted from light to dark at a moments notice. I will say that the use of strobe lighting was a little over the top, and of course some of the fight animations were re-used, but that was traditionally expected with how anime was constructed back then. Despite this, the animation was smooth, and always felt alive! There were very few moments where I believed that a scene fell flat and I would attribute that to the excellent cinematography that the directing crew implemented when choosing the angles, and views that they wanted to capture.
And no show is complete without its music! The most impressive thing about YYH is that there was 1 opening, and 1 ending for the entire show, and I never felt that it was dry. The opening is fantastic in its own right, and featured a Japanese and English version for the respective sub and dub’s of the show! Smile Bomb is as iconic as an opening as I’ve ever heard, and its catchy vibe never ceases to get me to sing along! The grit of the show is emphasized by its OST. Using traditional instruments, with different beats and cadences, made for some very intense and heart pounding moments throughout the show. Despite it being a smaller soundtrack by today’s standards, it has very well stood the test of time, in how well it was utilized and how easily it was able to evoke an emotional response from the audience!
The story teaches us that everyone in life walks a different path but there is always a crossroad where differing sides can come to an agreement and coexist in several ways. It shows us that the best way to understand one another is to try, whether that be via action or words. And of course that there is always something worth fighting for!
#What I would have liked to have seen
I’m not gonna spout here and tell you the show was perfect. I’d say the the final arc in the show is a bit shorter than I think it should have been, and therefore it loses some of the oomph that the other arcs in the show bring in. I would also say that the buildup for the show is a bit slow too, as I had initially stopped my rewatch in the early teens, only to pick the show back up a few months later in reverence and charge toward the finish line.
Of course there are some limitations to what 1992 animation can do, so honestly something that I think would be great to see is if the show is remade with today’s animation prowess. Who doesn’t want to see THE SINGLE GREATEST TOURNAMENT ARC IN ANIME HISTORY animated using today’s technology! But of course there is a trade off, as the show may lose its unique charm, but I guess that’s in the eye of the beholder!
#Recommendations
The DUB is the go to choice for Yu Yu Hakusho, as Justin Cook really brought life to Yusuke’s persona! There is a particular scene in the show where his voice acting is at its peak and is on the precipice of being one of the single greatest voice acting moments in anime history! Having heard both sub and dub I can say this with 100% certainly, the dub is the choice watching method! Oh and do yourself a favor and buy the Blu-ray of the series!
Hold on tight for an unforgettable roller coaster of a ride and enjoy one of the greatest anime journeys you will ever experience! This is one of those choice few shows I wish I could go back and watch for the first time. Thankfully in my case, a rewatch after many years did just the trick!
BANG!!!